Life in the forests of the Far East (vol. 2 of 2)

by Sir Spenser St. John

This is but a meagre account of the results of that extensive Chinese intercourse with the northern portion of Borneo, which was carried on for so many hundred years; but in a country so uncivilized there are no antiquities; and although the tradition exists among the people that formerly numerous immigrants arrived and settled, still they can relate few facts concerning them. There can be little doubt, judging from the character of the two people, that the nobles would endeavour to squeeze out of the foreign planters as much as possible; that they would fine them heavily for very slight faults, till they would drive the Chinese to resistance, and insurrections would as surely follow among a people who always unite against other races. They are no match for the Malays and Dayaks in wild warfare; and it is only their organization which enables them to offer any resistance to the desultory attacks of their enemies.

It has been said that in the great insurrection of the Chinese the Muruts joined them, and that the Borneans were compelled to seek the assistance of the Sulus to repress it, but I did not hear any mention of the latter statement, and it appears improbable. Internal dissention is the more likely cause of the failure of the attempt to throw off the yoke of the Malays, the Muruts being bribed to leave their allies. At all events, the Bisaya tribes were engaged in its suppression, as the grandfather of the orang kaya of Blimbing assisted in taking the fort at the entrance of the Madalam river. The Chinese insurgents, driven from the lower country, attempted to make a stand on a rounded hill there, but lost their fort, either by a panic or by treachery, my informant did not appear certain which.

Between Brunei and Sarawak the Chinese do not appear to have established themselves; but to the latter country the gold-workers of Sambas occasionally sent parties of men to try the soil, as auriferous ore was reported to be plentiful. But during the distractions consequent on the civil war, they found it impossible to pursue their peaceful industry, and those who were successful in obtaining gold were exposed to the attacks of lawless Malays.

One man, who is now a very respected member of society, a haji of mark, who has for the last twenty years conducted himself in the most exemplary manner, was once tempted to commit a crime by the report that a party of Chinese was returning to Sambas with sixty ounces of gold. He and a few of his relations waylaid the travellers, and, surprising them in the dark forest, murdered them and obtained the treasure.

This naturally aroused the anger of their countrymen, and an expedition was fitted out at Sambas to revenge the deed. They marched into the Sarawak territory, and advanced nearly as far as the town of Siniawan, then occupied by Malays, but found a strong stockade built across the path. The Chinese numbered about seven hundred men, while their opponents were at first scarcely twenty, but protected by their position and numerous guns. Confident in their numbers, the assailants rushed to the attack, almost reaching the foot of the defences, but receiving a severe fire from the guns in position, loaded with nails, bits of old iron and shot, they were beaten back. The Malays acknowledge the Chinese kept up the attacks all day; but, after their first repulse, they principally confined themselves to a distant fire, though they occasionally made attempts to turn the position, but were repulsed by the ever-increasing numbers of the Malays.

Towards evening the Chinese withdrew to the banks of the river, and made preparations to pass the night; while the Malays, who had been reinforced by many of their friends, determined to try the effect of a surprise. They were commanded by the gallant patinggi Ali, whose exploits and death are recorded in the Voyage of the Dido; and just at sunset they started in their light boats with a gun in each, and pulled with an almost silent stroke towards the Chinese encampment, where they found their enemies cooking rice, smoking opium, or shouting or talking, in fact, making so great a noise as to prevent the possibility of hearing the sound of paddles, cautiously pulled.

When all were ready, patinggi Ali gave the signal to fire, and the next moment they yelled and sprang ashore. The startled Chinese fled, and were pursued relentlessly by the Dayaks, who had come down from the hills to share in the struggle. It is said half the invading force was destroyed, and that the old, dried skulls I had noticed in the Dayak villages were the trophies of the fight.

Being thus exposed to every kind of ill-treatment, it is not surprising that the Chinese did not care to settle in the country; but, after Sir James Brooke was established in Sarawak, they began to increase in numbers, though always inclined to be troublesome. When I arrived, in the year 1848, it was considered there were about six hundred living there, mostly engaged in gold-working, and even these were much inclined to have an imperium in imperio, though too weak to carry out their views. They had formed themselves into an association called the Santei Kiu kunsi, or company.

I must notice that these Chinese are not the pure emigrants from China, but the half-breeds, descendants of the early settlers, who obtained Malay and Dayak wives, and are more warlike in their habits than the pure Chinese, and many have much of the activity of the aborigines. Settled in Sambas before the arrival of the Europeans in those seas, they gradually formed self-governing communities among the weak Malay States around, and by intermarriage with the women of the Dayak tribes in their neighbourhood, formed both political and social alliances with them.

It was not to be expected that this state of things could long exist without serious disputes arising with the Malay chiefs; however, they generally managed to prevent a total estrangement; but when backed by the Dutch officials, the Sultan of Sambas endeavoured to coerce them into submission, the Chinese gold-working communities refused to obey, attacked the small force sent against them, captured the forts, and drove the Dutch troops to their steamers, and left in their possession little more than the town of Sambas. This, of course, roused the officials, and a strong expedition was sent from Java, which within a year subdued the refractory Chinese, who, in fact, submitted with very little opposition. But during their success they managed to give Sarawak a considerable lift.